The Orphan King and The Witch of the Woods (KINGDOM Arthur X Female OC)

Ch. 16: The Lady From Kilune

It took only a week for guests to arrive at the palace, and at that, it was soon revealed to be Evelyn, younger sister of King Phillip IV... and the princess of Kilune.

Lily and Peter, Sam and Lucy were all in hiding but in only one place in the palace when she arrived. But they were there, watching as the great doors opened and a party entered. And in the center of it all, the lady that is to be wed to the king. Or at least, she who is yet to be known by the people in the palace.

They watched as Evelyn emerged from the people surrounding her, soon standing infront of Arthur with a smile on her face and her hands clasped together infront of her stomach. Later, she does a graceful curtsy.

"It is an honor and a great source of joy to finally meet you, your Majesty," the princess greeted the king. Her voice sounded soft, gentle, yet mature and educated. It seemed she knew what to do in whatever social situation she would find herself in.

Arthur bows to her, one arm over his stomach and the other on his back, before he stands straight and smiles back at the young lady. "It is an honor to meet you, as well, my lady... You must be exhausted from your trip. May I suggest accompanying you to your room?" He holds his hand out, and Evelyn seems to become shocked for a moment as she stares at the young man's hand. Nevertheless, her smile returns, and it seems to be warmer as she finally places her hand on his, letting the king guide her into the palace.

"My, I believe the rumors are true. You are far too polite for a king." With a playful tone, the princess teases Arthur, and having sensed her tone, the young king replies accordingly.

"Would that be a good or a bad thing?" he asks, a smile on his lips, and the princess only laughs in response, her hand daintily covering her mouth as she did so.

Lily could not help but frown as she watched the pair's interaction. Though she did not know why, she clearly did not like how the visitor acted much. Almost like she was not used to it.

"Who laughs like that?" she asks herself. Yet, maybe a little too unfortunately, her words were too strong. Strong enoughto be heard by Peter peering over just right beside her.

"Are you jealous?"

"Oh, quiet! I am not!" With her frown only deepening, Lily swats at Peter, the latter of which laughs as he avoids her attacks.

"Oh, really? Then how come you seem to hate the princess already?" he asks, leaning a little away from Lily now. Yet, he was still too late to avoid another one of the girl'd attacks, as he soon finds himself yelping at the feeling of his shoulder being pinched.

"I do not, you liar!"

"Shh! Quiet, you two! We might be discovered!" Sam scolds them eventually, causing both to stop and mutter to themselves as they turn back to the view below them.

Arthur soon took the lady's hand in his, accompanying her like he had offered earlier, and the group watching from the balconu disperse, meanwhile Sam remained, watching with a solemn look on his face.

Words — or rather, a single word — escapes his lips in a bare whisper. But soon Peter calls out to him, and the fairy follows his friends down the hall.

•●•

"It's a little... odd, don't you think? Just how many guests you managed to bring to the palace in only a matter of days... And to have them stay for longer, too!" Dann explained, calmly, though his tone could only hide for a moment the uneasiness he felt with how rapid current events have been happening. Almost like he felt something even greater happening soon. "You don't happen to have any thoughts of bringing other guests after this, do you?"

Behind his desk, Arthur remained silent, however. It seems he is deep in his own thoughts as well. But his adviser taps on his desk infront of him, and that pulls the young king out of his trance.

"Uhm, your Majesty. Perhaps all these current happenings have been too urgent for you to decide, but if you don't mind me asking... Just what exactly happened the time you had disappeared? And... your guests? Those before Princess Evelyn, of course. Who are they again?"

Once again, Arthur remained silent. But this time, he looked as if he were thinking. And the adviser took not too long to realize he was hesitant.

"The girl — the one in the village dress — must be..."

"Lily. Her name is Lily," the young man spoke, finally. And his hands, previously clasped infront of his lips, opened to begin working on the papers infront of him. "And the young man in village clothes is Peter, another friend of mine from the orphanage. And the other two..." He pauses, then he looks down at the floor infront of him with a stone-hard expression. "They're fairies. From the Wallowing Woods."

"Oh, of course, of course, they're all friends of yours," Dann replies, before his eyes widen upon realizing the king's words. "Wait a second, did you just mention Wallowing Woods?! Fairies?!" With his eyes still wide, the man turns around before his hands slammed down on Arthur's desk in his shock. He barely even realized his rash movements, but he is lucky to have such a kind and considerate king.

Still, Arthur looked up at him in surprise, even though he quite expected this sort of reaction from his adviser. Or anyone in the kingdom of Viridus, even. And it took him a while, and a single gulp, before he manages to compose himself to reply. "Well, yes. They are fairies, sir, but I assure you they mean no harm."

"But were they not the ones to capture your old friend from you four years ago?" This time, the man seems to have noticed his actions towards the king. And he slowly removes his hands from the furniture, and yet he remains to question his king's allowance of such creatures in the palace. "Your Majesty, are you sure you can trust them?"

The surprise on Arthur's face fades this time, as he looks up at the adviser and meets his eyes. And as he speaks, the man right infront of him begins to realize just how sure the young man truly is. "They took care of Lily when I couldn't, Dann. I believe that makes them truly trustworthy."